The late Bill Stern was one
of sportscasting's most colorful and entertaining personalities. His interests
early in life were divided between sports and theater.

He became a sportscaster for
in 1925 for WHAM in Rochester, New York. Then, in 1932 he was named stage
director for Radio City Music Hall, but tired of it after several seasons,
and began announcing football games with pioneer sportscaster Graham McNamee
in 1934.

Stern had a special flare for
the dramatic, and employed organ music, full dramatizations, and sound
effects in his broadcasts. His voice and broadcasting style reflected
his enthusiasm for the sports he covered. His popularity with sports fans
prompted NBC to sign him as a regular in 1937.

Stern is perhaps best remembered
for his famous "Colgate Sports Newsreel," which first aired on October
8, 1939, and for his legendary "The Bill Stern Sports Review," the first
known sports talk show in the history of radio.